Connor stared at the long, busy corridor ahead of them, "We're almost there."

Kevin turned and glowered at him as they slowly shuffled towards the entrance of the hospital, where Nabulungi was supposed to be waiting. Connor could see that Kevin was in a fair amount of pain, from the way he was holding himself and the measured breaths as he moved. They were also going slower and slower with each step.

"Do you need to stop?"

"No."

Connor sighed. Maybe they should stay in the city for another night. It was safer to be near the hospital where there are doctors and nurses to help them in case something went wrong. Besides, Connor was not eager to embark on the hellish bus ride back to the village.

"We can stay here for another few days, what do you think?" Connor suggested.

"Here?"

"Not here here, like the hospital, but in the city," Connor explained, "You can rest and get better, while I go and shop for supplies. I've got a long list of things that we are lacking back at the mission hut."

Connor dug out the crumpled list from his front pocket and handed it to Kevin. Kevin's eyes roamed down the wrinkled piece of paper.

"This is quite the long list. Well, you're gonna need help with carrying them and I'm practically useless now, so..."

"I'm sure the other Elders wouldn't say no to a trip to the city. What d'ya say?"

"What about Nabulungi?"

"I haven't asked her yet," Connor admitted sheepishly, "Oh, there she is!"

Kevin must have moved wrong when he suddenly froze and grabbed Connor's arm for support.

"Oh gosh, what's wrong?" Connor froze as well.

The both of them stayed rooted to the same place for a few seconds before Nabulungi bounded over to them.

"What took you two so long?" She took in Kevin's appearance, "What's the matter?"

Kevin slowly exhaled the breath that he had been holding and shook his head, "Nothing, I'm fine. Let's go."

They started forward again, and Connor noticed that Kevin did not let go of his arm as they moved. Which was fine by Connor. More than fine.

"What are you smiling at?" Kevin was looking at him as though Connor had gone mad.

"Huh?" Connor did not even realise what his face was doing, "Uh nothing."

Kevin studied Connor for a little longer before he looked away, "I'm glad to see that me being in pain is amusing you."

"Of course not, don't be silly," Connor stopped smiling, that couldn't be further away from the truth.

They continued walking for a while before Connor remembered, "Nabulungi, Elder Price and I will be staying in the city for a few more days. Would you like to join us?"

Nabulungi laughed, "Oh no Elder McKinley, I'd better be getting back to my father. I promised I'll help him with…some things."

She gave him a wink behind Kevin's back. Connor ignored her jest, and started to plan his mental to-do list. He started walking a little too quickly unconsciously, when Kevin pulled on his arm and shot him a dirty look.

"Oops, Sorry."

He already had an idea of where they were going to be staying. It was the same hotel which he had stayed with Poptarts when they first arrived in Uganda. They had landed in Kampala in the evening, and by the time they reached Kitgum, the bus services to the villages had ceased. Without the help of Google Maps, they went into the very first hotel they saw. The place turned out okay, much to their surprise. It was nothing like what they were used to back home, but the beds were clean and the bathrooms had running water.

—

The three of them walk slowly in companionable silence to the bus station, where Connor and Kevin bid Nabulungi goodbye. Kevin still had a hold on Connor's arm, and was looking thoroughly worn out by the short trek. It was a good thing the hotel was only a stone's throw away from the bus station.

"Almost there, a few more steps," Connor wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand.

Kevin nodded tersely, his own face glistening with sweat.

The unrelenting sun had been beating down on them since they left the hospital. Connor had already sweat through his shirt. The sheltered lobby of the hotel was a welcome respite to the heat.

Connor checked them in at the counter while Kevin just stared blankly ahead.

"Are you okay?" Connor asked worriedly.

"Yeah, just tired."

Connor paid for three nights with the credit card that his parents had given him to be used in case of emergencies. This was totally counted as a case of emergency in his opinion.

"Do you have a phone I can use?" Connor asked the lady behind the counter.

"Phone, there," she pointed to a payphone across the lobby.

They were shown to their twin room by an old man, who was thankfully walking at a pace which even Kevin could keep up with. The old man left them to their room with a toothless grin.

"Thank you so much," Connor returned the grin and closed the door.

Kevin finally let go of Connor's arm and slowly lowered himself onto one of the two beds with a groan. He had a hand pressed to his side.

"Do you want to lie down?" Connor was at a loss about what to do.

"I feel kinda gross, I think I'll take a shower first," Kevin gestured to his shoes, "Connor could you…I can't-"

"Sure thing," Connor helped to take off Kevin's shoes, which he had helped to put on in the first place.

"Thanks."

"Are you sure you want to take a shower? Do you need any help?" Connor realised how that sounded, "I mean- I didn't mean help with the showering itself. I just meant-"

Kevin chuckled softly, "It's okay. I think I can manage."

"Just don't get your bandage wet. And holler if you need help," Connor helped Kevin up from the bed and into the small bathroom.

—

Connor paced around the small room as Kevin took his shower. The water was finally shut off, and Connor listened intently for any sounds of distress. The bathroom door opened after a good fifteen minutes. Kevin emerged from the bathroom with just his boxers, and Connor tried not to stare. Although he did take a peek to see if Kevin followed the doctor's instruction of keeping his bandage dry.

"Umm…how was the shower?"

"Refreshing. Now I'm ready for bed," Kevin yawned.

Connor helped Kevin get situated in his bed, "I'm going to use the payphone in the lobby. Will you be okay by yourself?"

"Uh huh," Kevin was already halfway asleep.

Connor placed a bottle of water on the nightstandbeside Kevin's bed, just in case, before slipping out of the room.

—

He hoped that there was someone in the mission hut to pick up his call. The phone only rang twice before it was picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Poptarts."

"Connor! Oh gosh, we were so worried about Elder Price. Elder Cunningham is driving everyone crazy with his fretting. Is Elder Price okay?"

"Yeah, he had to have surgery but he's fine now. Listen, we're going to be staying in Kitgum for a few more days. I was thinking maybe the Elders would like to come over tomorrow for a visit, maybe help to replenish the supplies for the hut."

"Hold on," Poptarts said to Connor before yelling for the other Elders in the hut, "Guys! Elder McKinley has asked us to make a trip down to the city tomorrow. Supply run. The two of them will be staying there for a few more days."

There was a sudden scruffle across the line, which ended with Poptarts cussing at someone, before Elder Cunningham's voice boomed through the receiver, "Elder McKinley! How is Kevin?! Can I speak with him?"

"He's fine now, Elder Cunningham. We just left the hospital this morning, and he's asleep. You can come to Kitgum with the others to see for yourself," Connor reassured him, "Could you pass the phone back to Elder Thomas, please?"

Poptarts came back on the line, "Yes?"

"Hey, I'm gonna need you to help bring me more clothes, and my computer," Connor asked.

"Sure thing. How are you doing?"

"Okay, I guess. It's been a long two days. I gotta hang up and go check on Kev- Elder Price. So I'll see you tomorrow."

Poptarts confirmed where Connor and Kevin were staying before they said their goodbyes and hung up.

Connor trudged back to their room. He could use a shower and some sleep himself.

After his shower, Connor decided to follow in Kevin's footsteps of forgoing clothes. Mostly because he did not have any left. He had rinsed out the sweat and grime of his clothes, and they were now hanging outside the window to dry.

He set an alarm on his watch for Kevin's next dose of medication, and flopped back into the lumpy mattress. Connor missed his bed back home.